Insulating device for heavy duty splices



Se t. 28, 1965 c. w. MlER ETAL INSULATING DEVICE FOR HEAVi DUTY SPLICESFiled Sept. 3, 1965 2 Sheets-Sneet 1 R51 Y s 0R N men a E 0 VM\ T m.& TWW m k 4 w. MIER ETAL INSULATING DEVICE FOR HEAVY DUTY SPLICES FiledSept. 3, 1963 Sept. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EWI HJ in I= ==nm TTORNEYFRANK KWAL\-K United States Patent 3,209,061 INSULATING DEVICE FOR HEAVYDUTY SPLICES Christopher W. Mier, 447 Norway Ave., and Frank Kowalilr,112 Birch, both of Trenton, NJ. Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 306,106 6Claims. (Cl. 174-5) This invention relates generally to electricalsplices. More particularly, the invention relates to a protective,electrically insulative covering for heavy duty splices.

By way of background, it may be noted that heavy duty entrance cables ofthe wiring systems of ofiice buildings or the like are spliced by meansof rugged, specially designed clamping devices of substantial size.Normally, after splicing of the cables it is necessary to enclose thesplice with a protective, heavy wrap of insulating material. In someareas of the country, this is called a bug.

To apply the insulating covering involves a laborious, time-consumingprocedure involving wrapping of the splice with a long length ofinsulating tape until eventually, a thick, weatherproof splice cover isproduced. Application of the tape often involves as much as a fullhalfhours work on the part of the electrician. It can thus be readilyseen that the present practice employed for insulating and protectivelyenclosing a heavy duty cable splice leaves much to be desired, due toits exceedingly costly nature, not only in respect to the expenditure ofskilled labor, but also in respect to the excessive amount of electricaltape needed for the covering.

It is, accordingly, the main object of the present invention to providea splice cover or insulating device that will be relatively inexpensiveand will be capable of being applied swiftly and easily. To this end,the invention, summarized briefly, comprises a molded, flexible splicingsleeve of rubber, vinyl, or the like, having a bulbous center partmerging into reduced end portions. The sleeve in one form is split fromend to end to facilitate its application to or removal from the splice.In other forms, the sleeve may be open at one end only.

The invention further comprises a weatherproof outer covering having oneor both ends open, the open end or ends being adapted to be closedswiftly and easily about the cable or cables by means of a drawstring.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a' perspective view of the splice insulator comprising theinvention, applied to a typical heavy duty cable splice;

FIGURE 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the sleeveremoved and the outer covering ready for movement into its functionalposition;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the sleeve perse, on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, on the same scale as FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is a view like FIGURE 1 showing a modified form applied to apigtail splice;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the modified construction inFIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 77 of FIGURE5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, cables 10, 12 are stripped as at 14,16, after which the stripped ends are disposed in longitudinallycontacting engagement and secured together by means of a conventionalsplicing device 18 having cooperating, cable-embracing clamp elements20, 22 drawn into gripping engagement with the cable ends 14, 16 bymeans of bolts 24, 24.

This is completely conventional in a heavy-duty cable splice, andnormally a laborious, time-consuming wrap,- ping of the splice with along length of tape is required to enclose the splice with a heavy,weatherproof covering of electrical insulation.

Our invention comprises a splice covering designed to obviate thenecessity of wrapping the splice with tape. The covering, generallydesignated 26, includes an inner sleeve generally designated 28, formedfrom a single piece of resilient, weatherproof molded material such aspolyvinyl chloride, rubber, or the like. The sleeve includes a bulbouscenter part 30 merging into reduced end portions 32, 32. The sleeve 28is split from end to end as at 34 and the edge portions of the slit aretapered in cross-section to feather edges 36, 36. These, as shown inFIGURE 4, are overlapped through approximately 45 of the circumferenceof the sleeve to form an enclosure of the splice over the full length ofthe sleeve.

Sleeve 28, in use, is spread apart against its inherent resiliency to anextent sufiicient to permit the splice to pass through the open slit 34.The bulbous center part encloses the splicing clamp 18, while thereduced ends fit tightly about the cables 10, 12. Normally, the diameterof the ends 32 of the sleeve is slightly less than that of the cables,so as to cause the sleeve ends to resiliently grasp the cables and thusprovide substantially weathertight, closed ends on the splice cover whenthe same is in use.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the invention also includes an outer sleeve orcovering element 38. This is slipped loosely over one of the cablesbefore they are brought together and spliced. Then, after the innersleeve or covering element 28 is applied, the outer covering element 38is moved longitudinally of the cable over which it was positioned, untilit completely encloses the inner element 28. Element 38 is slightlylonger than the inner element 28, so that its ends project therebeyondin cableembraci-ng relation. The projecting ends of element 38 areequipped with drawstrings 40, and these are drawn tight to sealablyclose the ends of element 38 about the cables atlocations beyond theends of the inner covering .element 28.

The outer element is formed of a weatherproof, flexible material such asa heavy vinyl sheet material, rubberized fabric, or the like.

In FIGURES 5-7 there is shown a modified construction applicable to apigtail splice. In this instance, cables 10, 12 are in side-by-siderelation with each other and with a third cable 42, with the clamp 18gripping the stripped ends 14, 16, 44 of the several cables as shown inFIGURE 7.

In this form, the invention 26a includes an inner sleeve or coverelement 28a having a bulbous part 46 closed at one end and formedintegrally at its other end with a reduced, open-ended end portion 48.

In this form, a slit 50 extends from the open end of element 28a to alocation on bulbous part 46 short of the closed end. The closed end 52of the slit may be rounded or otherwise formed to minimize thepossibility of tearing when the slit is spread. The edges 54, 54 of theslit are tapered to a feather edge and overlapped as in the first formof the invention.

In this form of the device, the inner sleeve is applied by spreading theopen end thereof to an extent sufiicient to receive the splice. Then, anouter sleeve 38a having a closed, enlarged end 56 and open end 58 isslipped over the inner sleeve. The end 58 has a drawstring 60 whichextends beyond the end 48 of the inner sleeve (see FIG- URE 7). This isdrawn tight to complete the operation of sealably enclosing the splice.

The invention, as will be apparent, has many advantages over wrapping asplice with tape. Not only is there a very distinct and substantialsaving of time but also the cost of the device represents a considerablesaving when compared to that of the great length of tape that isnormally used.

Still further, the invention has the advantage of being readilyremovable whenever the splice is to be exposed for separation of thecables. This is a not uncommon occurrence, and normally, one would haveto cut the tape wrapping away or else unwind it. In either event, thewrapping would have to be discarded and a new one applied when thesplice is re-made and is to be covered again. The invention, to thecontrary, is swiftly removed and as swiftly reapplied.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carryout said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of theappended claims.

We claim as our invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,comprising:

(a) a splice-enclosing inner covering element of electricallyinsulative, resiliently flexible material formed as a sleeve slit for atleast part of its length, to temporarily spread the same for insertionof the splice; and

(b) an outer covering element in the form of a sleeve having a lengthgreater than that of the inner element and formed of a flexible,weatherproof material, said outer element completely enveloping theinner covering element, said outer element having at least one of itsends formed open and projecting beyond the inner element to receive atleast one cable of the splice, the outer element including meansextending circumferentially of the open end thereof and contractableradially of said open end to sealably close the same about the cable.

2. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,comprising:

(a) a splice-enclosing inner sleeve element formed of an electricallyinsulative, resiliently flexible material, said element being slitlongitudinally to temporarily spread the same for insertion of thesplice, the side edges of the slit being overlapped; and

(b) an outer sleeve element of a length exceeding that of the innerelement and formed of a weatherproof, flexible material, said outerelement completely enveloping the inner element, said outer elementhaving an open end projecting beyond an adjacent end of the innerelement to receive at least one of the spliced cables, and includingmeans extending around said open end and contractile in a radialdirection in respect to said open end to sealably close the same aboutthe cable so received.

3. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,comprising:

(a) a splice-enclosing inner covering element in the form of a moldedone-piece sleeve formed of an electrically insulative, resilientmaterial, said sleeve being longitudinally slit for resilient, temporaryexpansion of the same in a radial direction to insert the splice, thesleeve having a bulbous part merging into a reduced open end portionreceiving at least one of the spliced cables; and

(b) an outer sleeve of a length exceeding that of the inner sleeve andformed of a weatherproof, flexible material, said outer sleevecompletely enveloping the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve having an openend extending beyond the end portion of the inner sleeve to receive saidone cable, the open end of the outer sleeve including means extendingcircumferentially thereof beyond the end of the inner sleeve andcontractile with the open end of the outer sleeve to close the samesealably about said one cable.

4. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,comprising:

(a) a splice-enclosing inner covering element formed wholly of anelectrically insulative, resiliently flexible material, said elementbeing in the form of a sleeve enclosing the splice and having alongitudinal slit for at least part of its length, said element beingtemporarily, resiliently expandable in a radial direction for insertionof the splice and including a bulbous part merging into a reduced openend portion to receive at least one of the cables, the side edges of theslit being tapered to a feather edge when viewed in cross section andbeing normally overlapped; and

(b) an outer covering element in the form of a sleeve of a lengthexceeding that of the inner element and formed of flexible, weatherproofmaterial throughout, said outer element completely enveloping the innerelement and projecting beyond the inner element at one end at least, theouter element having said one end thereof formed open to receive saidone cable, said outer element including a drawstring extending about itsopen end for contracting the same in a radial direction into sealing,gripping relation to said one cable.

5. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,comprising:

(a) an inner covering element formed as a sleeve of a resilientlyflexible, electrically insulative material having a slit from end toend, both ends of the inner element being open to receive said cables,said inner element having a splice-enclosing, bulbous center partmerging into reduced end portions, the side edges of the slit beingtapered to a feather edge when viewed in cross section and beingnormally overlapped; and

(b) an outer covering element also in the form of a sleeve and formed ofa flexible, weatherproof material, said outer element wholly envelopingthe inner element, the ends of the outer element projecting past therespective ends of the inner element to receive said cables beyond thelocations at which the cables enter the inner element, said outerelement including means extending thereabout and contractile radially toclose said projecting ends about the respective, spliced cables.

6. An electrically insulating cover for a splice of at least two cables,said cover comprising:

(a) a splice-enclosing inner cover element formed of a single piece ofelectrically insulative, resiliently flexible material in the form of asleeve having a bulbous part at one end for receiving the splice, saidpart merging gradually into a. reduced part at the other end of thesleeve, said one end being closed and said other end being open forextension of the cables therethrough, said element having a longitudinalslit extending from the open end and terminating in the bulbous part fortemporarily, radially expanding the element to insert the splice, theside edges of the slit being tapered to a feather edge and beingoverlapped in contact with each other; and

(b) an outer cover element formed as a sleeve composed of a flexibleweatherproof material and having one end closed and the other end open,said ends corresponding to the closed and open ends, respectively of theinner element, said outer element being longer than the inner elementand completely enveloping the inner element, the outer elementprojecting at its open end beyond the open end of the inner element toreceive said cables beyond the 3,209,061 5 6 location at which thecables enter the inner element, 2,973,404 2/61 Anderson 174-87 saidouter element including drawstring means extending about its open endfor contracting the open FOREIGN PATENTS end of the outer elementradially into sealing en- 385,699 1/33 Great i i gagement with thecables 5 406,410 3/34 Great Blltalll.

References Cited by the Examiner JOHN F BURNS, Primary Examiner- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Examiner.

2,267,630 12/41 Weiland "174-5

1. AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATING COVER FOR A SPLIC OF AT LEAST TWO CABLES,COMPRISING: (A) A SPLICE-ENCLOSING INNER COVERING ELEMENT OFELECTRICALLY INSULATIVE, RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FORMED AS ASLEEVE SLIT FOR AT LEAST PART OF ITS LENGTH, TO TEMPORARILY SPREAD THESAME FOR INSERTION OF THE SPLICE; AND (B) AN OUTER COVERING ELEMENT INTHE FORM OF A SLEEVE HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THAT OF THE INNERELEMENT AND FORMED OF A FLEXIBLE, WEATHERPROOF MATERIAL, SAID OUTERELEMENT COMPLETELY EVELOPING THE INNER COVERING ELEMENT, SAID OUTERELEMENT HAVING AT LEAST ONE OF ITS ENDS FORMED OPEN AND PROJECTINGBEYOND THE INNER ELEMENT TO RECEIVE AT LEAST ONE CABLE OF THE SPLICE,THE OUTER ELEMENT INCLUDING MEANS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THEOPEN END THEREOF AND CONTRACTABLE RADIALLY OF SAID OPEN END TO SEALABLYCLOSE THE SAME ABOUT THE CABLE.